Big step forward for Sheffield campaigner as new laws proposed on 'deepfakes'
Helen Mort had her face photoshopped on to inappropriate images online
Today marks a big step forward for a Sheffield campaigner who's been fighting to get so-called 'deepfakes' made illegal.
Helen Mort had her Instagram pics of her face superimposed on innapropriate images online without her knowledge.
Ever since she found out the altered images existed, she's been campaigning for tighter regulation on so-called 'deepfakes'.
Today the Law Commission's released details of new proposed laws to expand current laws around intimate images, to cover altered pictures too.
The changes will now go out for consultation.
Helen says seeing the faked pictures of her had a real impact:
"I was horrified, confused and shocked. Because I knew that I'd never shared any kind of intimate photos of myself anywhere or with anyone in my life. So at first I didn't really understand what it could be. When I investigated it, it turns out these were faked images.
"I've had a lot of nightmares about some of the images afterwards, nightmares about being attacked. I didn't really want to leave the house, I got really suspicious of all kinds of people that I knew."
The proposed laws also include banning taking a picture down someone's top without their consent. And they would criminalise threats to share intimate images too.
It follows a change in the law to make upskirting a criminal offence.
Gina Martin, the campaigner whose efforts led to the criminalisation of upskirting, said:
“During my time campaigning and lobbying for upskirting to be criminalised, I spent a significant amount of time with victims of intimate image abuse. Like me, they felt that their experience either wasn't understood, captured adequately in law or taken as seriously as it should be by the authorities. This shows a huge gap in our efforts to protect people.
“I support the Law Commission’s approach to improving protections for victims of this abuse and encourage everyone to respond to this important consultation paper.”
The new law changes are now out for consultation until 27th May.